Officer recognized for rescue of elderly woman, dog

A 20-year veteran of the North Aurora Police Department will be awarded Monday with one of the highest honors an officer can receive from the department.

Patrol Officer Randal Voss will be presented with the Medal of Distinguished Service at the start of the village board meeting at 7 p.m. at 200 S. Lincolnway St.

Voss is credited with rescuing an elderly woman and her dog from a home on the village’s east side from an electrical fire this summer.

Voss could not be reached for comment, but his colleagues had high praise for him.

“Officer Voss’ actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of our North Aurora Police Department and worthy of this earned recognition,” Police Chief David Summer said.

Voss was on patrol the morning of July 11, 2011, when he was called to the 300 block of Spruce Street for power lines that were downed by fallen tree limbs from a severe storm.

Voss saw smoke coming from a home and helped a woman and her dog out of the house. Authorities later discovered that an electrical current had melted parts of the fence and metal gutters and caused a fire to start inside the home.

A tree limb fell on a power line, which came to rest onto a chain-link fence, and resulted in electricity being conducted to the home.

Sgt. Steve Van Loan noted to Summer that Voss “walked into a very dangerous situation and performed his duties above and beyond what was expected of any patrol officer. After the scene was secure, Van Loan added, “Officer Voss did not wait around to be patted on the back. He got into his car and went out to handle more calls.”

Good news for CASA: CASA Kane County’s eighth annual Golf for a Child Invitational was held Aug. 29 at the St. Charles Country Club and the Royal Fox Country Club and it raised more than $100,000.That#146;s not the only good financial news for CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, and provides everyday people appointed by a judge to work for the safety and well-being of children who have been removed from their homes because of parental abuse and neglect.The Dunham Fund, an Aurora-based foundation, also has agreed to match 40 percent of donations #8212; for a total of up to $500,000 #8212; made to CASA#146;s Grow a Healthy Child Program and Operational Endowment Campaign from now through December 2012.CASA officials say they are halfway to their goal of $1 million. For more information, call CASA Executive Director Gloria Bunce at (630) 444-3109.